Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault announced the start of preparatory work for the construction of the new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge project. As of the week of February 27, targeted clearing and geotechnical drilling operations and activities related to the relocation of public service equipment will begin. These initial interventions will continue the design of the new bridge.
PHOTO: Le ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ)
As of February 27, carpools (two or more people on board) and cabs will be able to use the dedicated lanes that have been temporarily installed on the approaches to the existing bridge as part of the ongoing repair work.
The new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge will include three traffic lanes in each direction, a two-way multi-use path, and wide shoulders adapted for bus use. Until the bridge is in service, the infrastructure is subject to a maintenance program that includes inspections and repairs, such as reinforcements and reparations of beams and slabs. The Plan québécois des infrastructures stated that an accumulated total of 376 million is the fortune spent on maintenance work.
PHOTO: MTQ
According to the ministère des Transports' data from 2021, 74 000 vehicles use the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge each day.
The signing of the contract with the selected company or group of companies is expected this spring. At this time, the schedule of work and the cost of the project will be specified; however, there have been estimates surrounding its cost. According to the tender results, the grand total will cost 2 billion dollars. The MTQ has yet to confirm the exact amount. The Samuel-De Champlain Bridge's reconstruction cost 4.2 billion dollars, with an estimated 145 000 vehicles that frequent the bridge daily (MTQ).
PHOTO: MTQ
The ministère des Transports has confirmed that the current bridge has reached the end of its useful life. The bridge opened in 1965.
Two lanes per direction are currently open, and trucks are now be able to use either of the two lanes on the bridge towards Vaudreuil-Dorion. In the direction of Montreal, trucks must always use the left lane on the bridge.
SOURCE: Le ministère des Transports du Québec.
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